13TSB_SynBio: Rapid Engineering of Cellular Factories

This project will integrate a number of novel synthetic biology technologies in a demonstration project to rapidly engineer a cellular factory. This includes a novel biopump from UCL which will allow the selective import of a hydrophobic substrate into the cell, where a short synthetic pathway will transform it into a higher value aroma chemical, before the final specialty chemical product is exported from the cell. This short synthetic pathway will be rapidly optimized by a combination of a novel gene expression control technology, RiboTite, from University of Manchester and the statistical optimization technology of Synthace. A successful outcome is expected to both yield a process for the production of a high value specialty chemical, as well as a demonstration of a new methodology for the rapid engineering of a bioprocess.

This project will integrate a number of novel synthetic biology technologies in a demonstration project to rapidly engineer a cellular factory. This includes a novel biopump from UCL which will allow the selective import of a hydrophobic substrate into the cell, where a short synthetic pathway will transform it into a higher value aroma chemical, before the final specialty chemical product is exported from the cell. This short synthetic pathway will be rapidly optimized by a combination of a novel gene expression control technology, RiboTite, from University of Manchester and the statistical optimization technology of Synthace. A successful outcome is expected to both yield a process for the production of a high value specialty chemical, as well as a demonstration of a new methodology for the rapid engineering of a bioprocess.

WHO WILL BENEFIT: Platform and fine chemical companies, biotech companies and contract manufacturing organisations charged with producing fine and platform chemicals on the multi-kilo and -ton scale, in particular the project partner Synthace. Additionally, many chemical companies that employ biocatalysts, such as DSM, Lonza, BASF and Dr. Reddy's, could also benefit from the technologies developed here. Similarly, oil companies such as Shell and BP have invested heavily in synthetic biology programmes to engineer bacteria to produce new biofuels, where new-engineered microbial factories would be equally important. Any number of these companies could benefit through licensing agreements to use new systems based on the technologies developed in this project.

HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT: We will actively seek to communicate our findings to the wider community through scientific meetings and scholarly publications. However, in order for the technology we develop to become widely adopted, particularly in industry, it will be important to first secure any intellectual property rights for all new inventions we discover. As the research progresses and our relationships with interested commercial partners develop, and whilst working within the conditions of the TSB grant, we will seek to commercially exploit these new technologies and license on IP for use in industrial-scale chemical production processes. Improvements in cell line platform development and bioprocess efficiency, generated from this project, could lead to alternative sustainable sources for chemical production, and reduce the reliance upon petrochemical feedstocks, leading to associated potential environmental benefits. This research project will also generate technology and knowledge that will help maintain the UK's competitive edge and will produce highly trained and skilled research personnel.